Oklahoma State University Athletics
Wooden Award Names Cunningham To Midseason Top-25 List
January 06, 2021 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State star guard Cade Cunningham was one of three Big 12 players selected to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, which was revealed on Wednesday by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The 25 players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden National Player of the Year Award and the Wooden Award All-America Team. Created in 1976, the previous winners of the Wooden Award read like a who's who of basketball royalty - Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Kevin Durant ('07), Candace Parker ('07; '08), Maya Moore ('09; '11) and Breanna Stewart ('15 and '16).
Cunningham, who was also named to the 2021 Naismith Trophy and Bob Cousy Award watch lists, was the lone freshman named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team. CBS Sports name him their Preseason Freshman of the Year, a Preseason All-America First Team selection and listed him at No. 2 on their ranking of the top 101 players in college basketball for 2020-21.
The Big 12's leading scorer and the second highest scoring freshman in the country, Cunningham is averaging 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from 3-point. No other player in the country can match Cunningham's all-around stat line.
Players not chosen to the midseason top-25 are still eligible for the Wooden Award late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award.
Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 Wooden Award will be presented following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Cunningham and the Cowboys will return to action on Saturday at Kansas State. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
The 25 players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden National Player of the Year Award and the Wooden Award All-America Team. Created in 1976, the previous winners of the Wooden Award read like a who's who of basketball royalty - Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Kevin Durant ('07), Candace Parker ('07; '08), Maya Moore ('09; '11) and Breanna Stewart ('15 and '16).
Cunningham, who was also named to the 2021 Naismith Trophy and Bob Cousy Award watch lists, was the lone freshman named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America team. CBS Sports name him their Preseason Freshman of the Year, a Preseason All-America First Team selection and listed him at No. 2 on their ranking of the top 101 players in college basketball for 2020-21.
The Big 12's leading scorer and the second highest scoring freshman in the country, Cunningham is averaging 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from 3-point. No other player in the country can match Cunningham's all-around stat line.
Players not chosen to the midseason top-25 are still eligible for the Wooden Award late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award.
Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 Wooden Award will be presented following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Cunningham and the Cowboys will return to action on Saturday at Kansas State. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
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